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Published Sunday, February 07, 2010 in Local

Water authority enacts new water leak policy

By Sarah Fay Campbell

The Newnan Times-Herald

The Coweta Water and Sewerage Authority will be checking for continuous leaks each meter cycle, and customers will be notified if their account is flagged.

Under the new policy, customers will not be able to ask for bill adjustments for leaks they don't fix after being informed about the leaks.

When a leak is first noticed, a meter technician will investigate, if there haven't been any prior leak reports. The customers will be notified by personal contact, a "doorknocker" message, a phone call, or by mail.

If there is still a leak report on the next meter cycle, the customer will be notified by a certified letter. Upon receipt of the letter, the customer will have 10 days to repair the leak, or give up any right to ask for a reduction in the bill.

If a leak qualifies as "severe," the water service will be turned off immediately.

Authority member Bud Butcher at this week's authority meeting asked for more information on when service would be terminated.

For example, some people might not repair a leak if it costs them $5 a month in excess water use or $150 to fix the problem.

"What I want to know is how severe it has to be before you turn it off," Butcher said.

Usually when a leak is bad enough to trigger the cutoff, the customer is worried about it.

"Keep in mind, if this policy turns out to have any problems we can always amend it or change it," said authority Chairman Neal Shepard.

"We've been doing, pretty much, this already," said General Manager Ellis Cadenhead. "We just need something in writing."

In other business:

*The authority approved using an insulated concrete block product for construction at the new authority headquarters on Corinth Road.

Original plans were to use a building shell design from local manufacturer MC Precast.

However, that contract has now been terminated, said Authority Attorney Jerry Ann Conner.

"We were promised certain things by certain dates and we never could get them," Cadenhead said.

The aerated concrete block has an insulation R value of 19, Cadenhead said. It will also be cheaper than the original material.

*The authority heard a presentation from Panoply for interior design and furniture recommendations for the new headquarters.

The authority is remodeling and expanding the former PlyMart building on Corinth Road.

When asked about the cost of the furnishings, tile, and carpet, Martha Ann Parks of Panoply said that the interior items will be put out for bid, and Panoply will be writing up the specifications.

"We have chosen furniture and finishes that would stay within a medium to low range," Parks said.

"We didn't want to be too fancy, because we are saving the ratepayers' money," Cadenhead said.

But there's a tradeoff in price and quality, said authority member Mary Ann Sullivan.

There have been some quality problems with some current authority desks, Cadenhead said.

Everything will have a 10-year warranty, Parks said, and they have tried to choose items manufactured in the U.S.

*The authority presented a 10-year service award to Tracy Thigpen. "She's very key to this group and brings a lot to it," said Cadenhead.

*The authority members were presented with a copy of the new standard operating procedures. Each department was asked to create its own SOPs, Cadenhead said.

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